Combination shirt band and soft-shirt-collar protector



1929- E. G. WILLARD 1,724,334

COMBINATION SHIRT BAND AND SOFT SHIRT COLLAR PROTECTOR Filed Oct. 27, 1928 l'inue 250;? 171 516549 Mafia 1% 2 Patented Aug. 13,1929.

imam 'EBNEST G. WILLARD, OF WAKEFIELD, Ill/IASSACHUSE'I.".I.S.v

(EOMBINATION SHIRT BAND AND SOFT-SHIRT-COLLAR PROTECTOR.

Application filed October 27, 1928. Serial No. 315,507.

This invention relates to means for preserving the appearance and proper condition of articles of wearing apparel, and has particular reference to devices or means employedby laundries for use in connection with laundered shirts returned to customers.

A common practice heretofore has been to employ a band extending around the folded shirtand to also, when the shirt has an attached collar and it is desired to protect the collar from being improperly crushed or creased, employ some kind of stiffening strip or member under or inside the ironed collar.

The object of the present invention is to provide a single device by means of which both of the above-mentioned results can be attained, thereby saving time for the employees of the laundry as well as being economical when compared with the cost of a wrapping band and a collar stiffener or protector.

With the above-mentioned object in view, the invention consists in the combined wrapping member and collar protector, substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.

Of the accompaying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of a folded shirt having one of my combination devices applied thereto. Figure 2 is a rear view of the same.

Figure 3 is a plan View of one of the combination devices inthe flat form in which it is died out from a sheet of suitable material such as inexpensive and fairly stiff paper 5 board. I

Similar reference characters designate similar parts or features in all of the views. As illustrated by Figure 3, the combined band and collar protector is capable of being made by a single dieing operation. It comprises a strip a having a length to pass entirely around a folded shirtand provide ends capable of being secured together. In the specific form illustrated, one end has a tongue I) and the other end has a series of slits c 0 either one of which may be interengaged by the tongue 6 according to the bulk of the garment which is enclosed in the band. .Figure 2 illustrates the tongue and slits as interlocked. I do not limit myself to the specific structure illustrated, for securing the ends of the band together.

An intermediate portion of the strip is widened, and said widened portion is cut to provide edges d d which are straight 01 nearly so and are nearly at' a right angle to each other, the apex of the angle being indicated at e. This re-entrant shape of the upper edge of the widened portion of the band is to accord with the usual shape of the fold of a shirt collar when a shirt having a collar is folded substantially flat in the customary manner or form.

In use, such a device as illustrated by Figure 3 is laid across the front of a folded shirt (see Figure l) with the widened portion tucked or slipped under the front portions of the collar far enough to cause the edges d d to substantially fit the inside of the front of the folded collar and-with the apex e fitting the meeting ends of the said collar folds. Then the ends of the band are carried around to the back of the shirt and interlocked as illustrated by Figure 2. It is a very quickly effected application of the device to its use, effecting not only a wrapping of the folded shirt but also a stiffening of the collar that protects said collar against unsightly creasing when the wrapped shirt is being transported or is subject to pressure when packed or stored.

Among the advantages, the following are important:

The combination device is capable of economical production since the sheet material is very inexpensive and the devices are made complete by a dieing operation. In use it is easily applied so as to simultaneously wrap the folded shirt and ensure preservation of the shape and appearance of the collar.

In the form illustrated, the end portions of the band are comparatively narrow, such form being preferable because it results in a saving of material when cutting the articles from a sheet. Obviously however, the band as a whole may be of any width without departing from my invention the important feature of which is the presence of are-entrant edge portion to substantially fit the inside of the front portions of the shirt collar. And I do -not limit myself to the exact shape of the recess or re-entrant edge as illustrated, because some styles of shirts or shapes of their collars may require different forms. 1 s

In practice it is sometimes desirable to employ a stiffener around which the shirt is folded before applying the band and collar protector, but illustration thereof is omitted enclosure having a front edge notched to provide portions to extend under the front portions of the collar and substantially fit the inside of said front collar portions.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a band having ends adapted to be connected together when a shirt is wrapped therein, a notch being provided inan edge of the band, said notch having a form to substantially correspond with the usual shape of the front of the collar member of the shirt.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a band having ends adapted to be connected together when a shirt is wrapped therein, an intermediate portion of the band being widened, said widened portion having a recess formed to substantially correspond with the usual shape of the front of the collar member of the shirt.

4. The combination with a folded soft collar shirt, of a band surrounding the shirt, said band having edge portions substantiallytfitting the front of the collar of the shirt. t

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

ERNEST G. WILLARD. 

